SUPER DURHAM SEND MAN UTD PACKING
SALICKI, HEPPLE AND NESS GET THE GOALS AS BIG-SPENDING LEADERS ARE STUNNED
Durham brought an end to Manchester United’s unbeaten record this season with a superb 3-1 victory at New Ferens Park.
Beth Hepple and Zoe Ness scored in the second half to seal victory in the Women’s Championship.
United’s Ellie Toone cancelled out Becky Salicki’s effort to make it 1-1 at half-time but United failed to kick on and Durham took full advantage for a memorable triumph in front of a crowd of 912.
Hepple converted a penalty just after the hour mark following a Mollie Green handball, before Ness finished off a counter-attack with three minutes left.
The result sees Durham move just a point behind United in the table.
The hosts started the brighter as Hepple drove from midfield but her effort was tame and straight at Siobhan Chamberlain in the Manchester United goal.
United came back into the game and Toone went close when she smashed a volley from the edge of the box that forced Durham keeper Hannah Reid into a fantastic save.
Durham took the lead on 22 minutes from a freekick after Nikki Gears had been fouled on the corner of the penalty area. Hepple whipped in a delicious ball and Salicki stabbed beyond Chamberlain.
Charlie Devlin should have equalised for the visitors within moments of the restart but she smashed her effort over the bar from six yards.
The equaliser came through Toone who hooked the ball home after a poor defensive header from Sarah Wilson.
But on the hour mark, Green was penalised for handball and Hepple kept her composure to smash the ball past Chamberlain.
On 70 minutes, Green tried to make amends when she bent an effort from 30-yards but it dropped over the crossbar.
The win was sealed for Durham on 87 minutes when a counter attack sprung by Kathryn Hill and she released Ness who cut inside and beat Chamberlain at the near post.
Durham’s Emily Roberts said: “It’s a fantastic win, it was a good team performance.
“I think everyone has just put an absolute shift in and obviously it’s come off. Everyone has worked really hard for each other and that’s what has made the difference today.
“Full credit to the defence every one of them, obviously the midfield and Nikki Gears - bless her - she has put an absolute shift in up top, the amount of running she has done.
“Yeah it’s amazing to have beaten Manchester United, I can’t quite believe it.
“It feels like I’m living in a little bit of a bubble but I am so proud of all the team today.
“Taking four points from a possible six against Manchester United in the league is great.”
Sunderland Ladies conceded three second half goals to lose 3-1 at Blackburn in the third round of the WNL Cup.
The Lady Black Cats were grateful to defender Grace McCatty early on when she made to fine tackles to keep the hosts at bay.
Blackburn continued to dominate possession but could not find a breakthrough before the interval.
Sunderland struck a minute into the second half when Bridget Galloway pulled the ball back and Emily Hutchinson fired the visitors ahead.
The lead lasted just eight minutes when Natasha Flint crossed for Saffron Jordan to hit home.
Blackburn went ahead on 74 minutes when Flint turned home at the near post.
Flint put the game beyond Sunderland when Flint fired into the top corner with a fine shot.